Messier Objects: Guide to the Bright Galaxies, Nebulae and Clusters Listed in the Messier Catalogue

William Herschel

Messier 13 (M13), also known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, is a globular cluster located in Hercules constellation. Messier 13 is one of the brightest and best known globular clusters in the northern sky. The cluster has an apparent magnitude of 5.8 and lies at a distance of 22,200 light years, or 6,800 … [Read more…]

Messier 12 (M12), also known as the Gumball Globular, is a globular star cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. The Gumball Globular has an apparent magnitude of 7.68 and lies at a distance of 15,700 light years from Earth. It has the designation NGC 6218 in the New General Catalogue.

Messier 10 (M10) is a rich, bright globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. The cluster lies at a distance of 14,300 light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 6.4. Its designation in the New General Catalogue is NGC 6254.

Messier 9 (M9) is a globular cluster located in the southern constellation Ophiuchus. The cluster has the designation NGC 6333 in the new General Catalogue. It lies at a distance of 25,800 light years from Earth. With an apparent magnitude of 8.42, M9 is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. The cluster … [Read more…]

Messier 5 (M5) is a bright globular cluster located in the northern constellation Serpens. The cluster lies at a distance of 24,500 light years from Earth, in the galactic halo of the Milky Way. It has the designation NGC 5904 in the New General Catalogue. With an apparent magnitude of 6.65, Messier 5 can be … [Read more…]

Messier 4 (M4) is a bright globular cluster located in the southern constellation Scorpius. It lies at an approximate distance of 7,200 light years from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 5.9. The cluster has the designation NGC 6121 in the New General Catalogue.

Messier 3 (M3) is a globular cluster located in the constellation Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs. Messier 3 is one of the brightest, largest globular clusters in the sky. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.2 and is approximately 33,900 light years distant from Earth. It has the designation NGC 5272 in the New General … [Read more…]

Messier 2 (M2) is a globular cluster located at an approximate distance of 37,500 light years from Earth, well beyond the galactic centre. The cluster lies in the direction of Aquarius constellation. It is one of the largest known clusters of its kind in the night sky, spanning about 175 light years in diameter. The … [Read more…]